About the Author

Nancy Shonka Padberg

Ms. Padberg is a former Fortune 500 Times Mirror executive, Integrated Marketing Communications Vice President and MBA graduate from the Graziadio School of Business & Management at Pepperdine University. Ms. Padberg has over 17 years of publishing and marketing expertise, served on several boards, is a guest speaker, published author, former Big 12 golfer and resides in Santa Monica.

Best Boomer Towns Columns

A growing number of baby boomers who say they want to find smaller homes to save money are putting it off. Financial planners say it has become more difficult to downsize in recent years, but it can still be a smart decision that people should consider if they want to save money. Despite the large number of people who have shopped for smaller homes, the numbers don't show a big uptick in homeowners who follow through with the move. What's keeping empty nesters from taking flight? For one, the empty nest is not necessarily staying empty due to young people returning home in record numbers because of a weak, low-employment economy. People nearing retirement are also discouraged by recent economic setbacks, according to real estate experts and financial planners. Still there is still plenty of opportunity to save money by downsizing. It may not come as the big profit windfall boomers were expecting when home prices were soaring a half-decade ago. Not everyone has gained in the uneven housing recovery, but that's not entirely bad for downsizers. With the flexibility they gain in retirement, they can target lower-priced regions.